Image capturing apparatus, control method of same, and program

ABSTRACT

A camera capable of interchanging a mount as a connection part that connects with a lens. Under control of a system control unit, when the power of the camera is in an on state, a type of the mount attached to the camera is discriminated to determine mount interchange. When it is determined that the mount interchange has been performed, with respect to a menu including a plurality of items and a My Menu in which items selected by a user from among the items included in the menu are registered, an item unnecessary for the discriminated type of the mount among the items of the menu is set to non-display, and when toe item set to the non-display has been registered in the My Menu, the item is reset in the My Menu.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus in which amount is interchangeable, a control method of the same, and a program.

Description of the Related Art

Since a mount which is a connection part of a lens-interchangeablecamera and a lens has an interface which varies according to types oflenses, some cameras provide a plurality of models of mounts inaccordance with types of lenses. Thus, when the lens-interchangeablecamera is used, it is important to select equipment in consideration ofa combination of the camera and a lens for use. However, such asituation is disadvantageous for rental business handling a lot ofequipment in terms of both of costs and management. Under suchcircumstances, a camera having a system in which a mount isinterchangeable, by a hand of a user himself/herself is desired andactually commercialized.

However, interchanging of a mount is a work requiring technicalknowledge and tool, such as adjustment of flange back, and the work isnot easy for a user and such a specification is not relevant for mostusers. On the other hand, when a type of a mount becomes different, notonly a type of a lens which is able to be connected to a camera varies,but also a communication scheme between the lens and the camera, andperformances and functions of the camera side become different, so thatthe camera needs to have a specification in consideration of suchdifferences. At this time, when a specification premising that a mountis interchanged is provided, there is an issue can occur that a functioninsignificant for most users appears to be a usable function. This maycause confusion for a user, so that functions are normally allocatedaccording to a type of a mount at a time of shipping from a factory. Inthis case as well, however, it is necessary to prevent inconsistencyfrom occurring in order to deal with a case where a mount isinterchanged by a hand of a user.

A similar issue also can occur when a lens is interchanged, and such isdisclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-280239 and Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 4-280237. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-280239 ischaracterized in that all settings, are reset when interchange of a lensunit is detected. Moreover, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-280237 ischaracterized in that a camera is started in a predetermined state whena lens unit is detected at a start-up time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In contrast to lens interchange, which can easily be performed by auser, it is beneficial for mount interchange, which is not performed bymost users, to provide a function so as not to confuse a user. Forexample, a lens-interchangeable camera in which a mount isinterchangeable beneficially includes a system of behaving as though itwere another product when a type of the mount is different.

The present invention has been made in view of points as describedabove, and can prevent inconsistency from occurring in a function of animage capturing apparatus after mount interchange, so as not to confusea user.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an image capturingapparatus, in which a mount serving as a connection part with a lens isinterchangeable, includes a discrimination unit configured todiscriminate a type of the mount attached to the image capturingapparatus; and a management unit configured to manage a menu including aplurality of items and a customizable menu in which an item selected bya user from among the items included in the menu is registered, in whichthe management unit performs an updating process for setting art itemwhich is unnecessary for the type of the mount discriminated by thediscrimination unit among the items of the menu to non display orinvalid display, and resetting all or a part of the items registered inthe customizable menu or setting all or the part of the items registeredin the customizable menu to invalid display.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of alens-interchangeable digital video camera according to a first exemplaryembodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a configuration fordiscriminating a type of a mount.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a menu.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating an example of a menu screen.

FIGS. 5A to 5E are diagrams illustrating an example of a shift of a MyMenu screen.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process forperforming determination of mount interchange when the camera accordingto the first exemplary embodiment starts and updating a menu and a MyMenu.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating details of a main routine of cameracontrol in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8A is a flowchart illustrating details of one example of othercontrol in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8B is a flowchart illustrating details of one example of othercontrol in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process forperforming determination of mount interchange when a camera according toa second exemplary embodiment starts and updating a menu and a My Menu.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Description will hereinafter be given for some embodiments of thepresent invention with reference to accompanying drawings.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of alens-interchangeable digital video camera (hereinafter, referred to as acamera) which is an image capturing apparatus according to the presentexemplary embodiment.

An interchangeable lens 14 is connected to a camera main body 17 of thecamera through a mount 13. The mount 13 is a connection part with thelens 14, and is an interface for connecting the lens 14 and the cameramain body 17. The lens 14 and the mount 13 are able to be connected onlywhen having the same structure, and are not able to be connected whenhaving different structures.

In the camera main body 17, an image capturing unit 1 is formed of animage capturing element such as a CCD or a CMOS, an autofocus mechanism,and the like. The image capturing unit 1 adjusts a focal point, a lightamount and the like with respect to an image sensing field in accordancewith an instruction from a camera control unit 3, converts an opticalimage of the image sensing field, which is focused through the lens 14,into a video signal, and sends the video signal to a camera signalprocessing unit 2.

The camera control unit 3 is formed of a microcomputer and the like, andcontrols an entire camera system in accordance with instructions from asystem control unit 4, an operation unit 10 and the like.

A signal processing unit 5 is formed of an integrated circuit, amicrocomputer and the like, and performs a recording operation to arecording medium 9, or a reproduction operation of a recorded videoimage in accordance with an instruction from the system control unit 4.The signal processing unit 5 includes a recorded signal processing unit6 and a reproduced signal processing unit 7. The recorded signalprocessing unit 6 applies a predetermined signal process to a signaloutput from the camera signal processing unit 2 and sends the resultant.The reproduced signal processing unit. 7 applies a predetermined processto a reproduced signal, mixes character information and print rangeframe display information, which are transmitted from the system controlunit 4, with a video signal, and sends the resultant to a liquid crystalpanel 8. The liquid crystal panel 8 reflects a video image and performsdisplay of various information of a main body with characters and signs,guide display at a time of menu setting, and the like.

The operation unit 10 is formed of operation members such as a powerswitch, a menu key, and a cross key (up/down/left/right/set). When themenu key is pressed down, the system control unit 4 receives aninstruction thereof and makes a menu display request to the signalprocessing unit 5, and a video image with which a menu screen issuperimposed is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 8. For example,when a cursor is moved, in the menu screen by using the cross key tochange a setting of a desired item, a content thereof is stored in aSRAM 11. Since a voltage is supplied from a backup power 12 to the SRAM11, even when a power of the camera is turned off, the content of themenu which is set here is kept, on being held.

A mount detection unit 15 detects information for discriminating a typeof the mount 13.

A lens communication unit 16 carries out, for example, voltageconversion for performing serial communication, and the lens 14 and thecamera main body 17 mutually exchange data with the serialcommunication. Control of the lens 14 and acquisition of statusinformation of the lens 14 are performed through the lens communicationunit 16. The serial communication carried out at this time is decidedbased on a determination result of the mount detection unit 15. It maybe determined that communication is not allowed depending on a type ofthe mount 13.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a configuration fordiscriminating a type of the mount 13 in the camera according to thepresent exemplary embodiment. A connection signal line between the mount13 and the camera main body 17 is short-circuited in FIG. 2A and is openin FIG. 2B. The system control unit 4 discriminates the type of themount 13 depending on whether a signal obtained through the mountdetection unit 15 has a high level or a low level. The system controlunit. 4 decides a subsequent operation based on a detection result ofthe mount detection unit 15. Though a method for discriminating the typeof the mount 13 based on two types of high and low is indicated here,much more types of the mount. 13 may be discriminated by dividing avoltage V through resistors as long as a system monitors a signal withan A/D conversion port of the system control unit 4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a menu inthe camera according to the present exemplary embodiment. When the menukey included in the operation unit. 10 is pressed down, a menu is openedand a menu screen is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 8.

A menu 300 is managed with a hierarchical structure, and a firsthierarchy 301 has items of “Camera Setup”, “Audio Setup”, “Video Setup”,“Other Function”, and “My Menu”.

There is a second hierarchy under the first hierarchy 301, and thesecond hierarchy has a detailed item of each item of the first hierarchy301, for example, a detailed item 302 of “Camera Setup” and a detaileditem 303 of “My Menu”.

There is a third hierarchy under the second hierarchy, and the thirdhierarchy may have, for example, a setting item 304 or an edit item 305.

The menu 300 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 8 as a menu screen400 as illustrated in FIG. 4A. FIG. 4A illustrates a state where thedetailed item 302 of “Camera Setup” is displayed.

An operation on the menu screen 400 is performed by using the cross keyor the like included in the operation unit 10. When the cross key isoperated in an up direction, a cursor 401 moves to an upper item. Whenthe cross key is operated in a down direction, the cursor 401 moves to alower item. When the cross key is operated in a left direction, thecursor 401 moves, if there is a higher hierarchy, to the higherhierarchy. When the cross key is operated in a right direction, thecursor 401 moves, if there is a lower hierarchy, to the lower hierarchy,and, if there is no lower hierarchy, opens the setting item 304. When aSET key of the cross key is pressed down on a desired item by moving thecursor 401 in the setting item 304, a setting is decided.

Though items which are usable in the camera are basically displayed onthe menu screen 400, items which cannot be used temporarily because ofsome restriction or in which there is no change in an operation evenwhen setting is temporarily performed exist in some cases. For example,there is a case where a specification in which a WE (white balance)setting cannot be performed is desired when the lens 14 is not attachedto the camera. In such a case, when a setting of a function thereof isallowed, an actual operation of the camera and an item of the menu arenot matched. Thus, there is a system in which an item which is notusable temporarily is displayed in a gray-out state in order to preventa user from being confused. FIG. 4B illustrates one example of a displayform thereof, in which an item 402 in gray-out display is an unusableitem addition to the gray-out display, there is also a method for hidingan unusable item itself. A WEB setting is hidden in FIG. 4C. Forexample, the gray-out display is effective for indicating that thefunction is temporarily unusable, and the non-display is effective forindicating that the function does not exist. As a case where thefunction does not exist, considered is a case where the function is notusable, for example, unless the function is expanded as an option and isonly prepared in advance at a time of design.

Next, description will be given for the My Menu with reference to FIGS.5A to 5E. FIGS. 5A to 5E are diagrams illustrating an example of a shiftof a My Menu screen. My Menu is a function for selecting, registeringand collecting items which are used frequently by a user from amongitems in a menu, and is called a custom menu, favorite or the like.

FIG. 5A illustrates a state where the detailed item 303 of “My Menu” isdisplayed. In a state where nothing is registered in the My Menu asillustrated in FIG. 5A, there are items of “Return” and “Edit” in a MyMenu screen 501. “Return” is art option for moving to a higherhierarchy, and when the cursor 401 is moved to a position of “Return” toperform a defining operation, the My Menu screen 501 moves to the firsthierarchy. “Edit” is an entrance for moving to a lower hierarchy, andwhen the cursor 401 is moved to a position of “Edit” to press down aright key of the cross key or a SET key of the cross key, the My Menuscreen 501 moves to the lower hierarchy.

When “Edit” is selected and defined in the My Menu screen 501, an Editscreen 502 is displayed as illustrated in FIGS. 5B to 5E. The Editscreen 502 has items of “Return”, “Register”, “Move”, “Delete”, and“Reset All”. “Return” is an item for moving to a higher hierarchysimilarly to the above.

When “Register” is selected and defined in the Edit screen 502 asillustrated in FIG. 5B, a Register target selection screen 503 fordesignating which item is to be registered in the My Menu is displayed.The Register target selection screen 503 has the almost sameconfiguration as that of a normal menu screen, but an item which cannotbe registered in the My Menu is not displayed therein. When the itemwhich is desired to be registered in the My Menu is designated, aconfirmation screen. 504 is displayed. When “Cancel” is selected in theconfirmation screen 504, registration is not executed, and when “Exec”is selected, registration is executed. For example, when “Color Bar”displayed in the Register target selection screen 503 is registered,“Color Bar” is added in a My Menu executed screen 505.

When “Move” is selected and defined in the Edit screen 502 asillustrated in FIG. 5C, a Move target selection screen 506 forrearranging items registered in the My Menu is displayed. When thecursor 401 is moved to the item which is desired to be rearranged andthe SET key of the cross key is pressed down in the Move targetselection screen 506, a Move target move screen 507 is displayed. Whenthe item which is previously selected moves in accordance with avertical operation of the cross key and the SET key is pressed down inthe Move target move screen 507, a movement destination is decided. Forexample, when “ABB” displayed in the Move target move screen 507 ismoved to the upper side of “COLOR BAR”, “ABB” is rearranged to be in theupper side of “COLOR BAR” in a My Menu executed screen 508.

When “Delete” is selected and defined in the Edit screen 502 asillustrated in FIG. 5D, a Delete target selection screen 509 forresetting an item registered in the My Menu is displayed. When thecursor 401 is moved to an item desired to be reset and the SET key ofthe cursor key is pressed down in the Delete target selection screen509, a confirmation screen 510 is displayed. When “Cancel” is selectedin the confirmation screen 510, the reset is not executed, and when“Exec” is selected, the reset is executed. For example, when “ABB”displayed in the Delete target selection screen 509 is reset, itemsother than “ABB” which is reset remain in a My Menu executed screen 511.

When “Reset All” is selected and defined in the Edit screen 502 asillustrated in FIG. 5E, a confirmation screen 512 for resetting all theitems registered in the My Menu is displayed. When “Cancel” is selectedin the confirmation screen 512, all resetting is not executed, and when“Exec” is selected, all resetting is executed. When all resetting isexecuted, a My Menu executed screen 513 has a state in which nothing isregistered.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process forperforming determination of mount interchange when the camera accordingto the present exemplary embodiment starts and updating the menu and theMy Menu.

When the power of the camera is in the off state, the system controlunit 4 acquires a state of the power switch for monitoring at step S601.

The system control unit. 4 confirms whether or not the power switch isturned on at step S602. When the power switch remains in the off state,the procedure returns to step S601, and when the power switch is in theon state, the procedure proceeds to step S603.

At step S603, the system control unit 4 discriminates and acquires atype of the mount with the mount detection unit 15 as described in FIGS.2A and 2B.

The system control unit 4 confirms whether the current mount has thesame type as that of the mount when the camera is started previously atstep S604. Type information of the mount in the previous time is storedin the SPAM 11, and the type of the mount discriminated at step S603 iscompared to the type information of the mount stored in the SRAM 11, sothat mount interchange is able to be determined. The type information ofthe mount stored in the SRAM 11 has an initial value when the camera isshipped from a factory or a value obtained by update in the backupprocess at step S604. When it is determined as the same type at stepS604, the procedure proceeds to step S614. On the other hand, when it isdetermined as not the same type, that is, determined that the mount hasbeen interchanged at step S604, the procedure proceeds to step S605.

Steps S605 to S611 serve as a routine of the process for updating themenu and the My Menu.

Step S605 is a start point of a loop, in which the menu is formed of anitem of n=1 to N.

In order to check influence of mount interchange for the items in themenu one by one, a display form of the item [n] is acquired at stepS606. Examples of a result acquired here include “display”, “invaliddisplay”, and “non-display”. The “display” indicates that there is anitem in which a setting can be changed, and most items are normallydetermined as the “display”. The “Invalid display” indicates an item inwhich a setting cannot be changed at that timing but can be changed if acondition is satisfied. Here, the “invalid display” is displayed in agray-out state as illustrated in FIG. 4B. The “non-display” indicates anitem which is not displayed in the camera. This is a scheme used when acamera having a different type as a product is designed with the samefirmware, and achieves an effect of providing an operation as acompletely different camera. Though description is given in the presentexemplary embodiment by assuming that the user interchanges the mount,the mount interchange actually requires advanced techniques, knowledge,and tool, so that it is not relevant for most users. In such a case,display of the menu which is not relevant for most users (an item whichis not required depending on a type of the mount) causes confusion, sothat the confusion is prevented by hiding the menu.

Whether or not the item [n] is the non-display target is determined atstep S607. When it is determined that the item [n] is not thenon-display target, the determination from step S605 is repeated for anext item [n+1]. When it is determined that the item. [n] is thenon-display target, the procedure proceeds to step S608 at which theitem [n] is hidden in the menu so as not to be displayed in the menuscreen.

Next, whether or not the item [n] has been registered in the My Menu isdetermined at step S609. When it has not been registered in the My Menu,the determination from step S605 is repeated for the next item. [n+1].When it has been registered in the My Menu, the procedure proceeds tostep S610 at which registration of the item [n] is reset in the My Menu.

When reaching an end of the loop at step 3611 after repeating thedetermination for an item [1] to an item [N], a menu configuration ofthe camera is defined at this time.

The system control unit 4 saves the type information of the mountacquired at step 3603 in the SRAM 11 at step S612. At this time, theacquired type information is overwritten and saved to the typeinformation of the mount saved in advance. Since the voltage is suppliedfrom the backup power 12 to the SRAM 11, even when the power of thecamera is turned off, the type information of the mount is kept on beingheld.

At step S613, the menu setting is totally initialized and the items [1]to [N] are initialized. This is a process for preventing inconsistencyof the setting, which is caused by switching the menus of “display” and“non-display”, and the initialization may be performed by limiting atarget to be initialized to a part of the items. The process so farmakes the camera in a state of being allowed to operate with a settingsuitable for the mount 13.

Step S614 is a main routine of camera control, at which the operation asthe camera is started. Details of the main routine of camera controlwill be described below.

The system control unit 4 acquires the state of the power switch formonitoring at step S615. The system control unit 4 confirms whether ornot the power switch remains in the on state at step S616. When thepower switch remains in the on state, the procedure returns to stepS614, and when the power switch is in the off state, the procedure exitsthe present process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating details of the main routine of cameracontrol at step S614.

Steps S701 to S706 serve as a routine of a process for determininginvalidity.

Step S701 serves as a start point of a loop, at which items of k=1 to Kare in the displayed menu.

In order to perform invalidity determination for the items in thedisplayed menu one by one, a display form of an item [k] is acquired atstep S702.

Whether or not the item [k] is a target of invalid display is determinedat step S703. Since the type of the mount is not acquired here, onlydetermination of “display” and “invalid display” is performed. When itis determined that the item [k] is not the target of the invaliddisplay, the procedure proceeds to step S704 at which the item [k] isnormally displayed. When it is determined that the item [k] is thetarget of the invalid display, the procedure proceeds to step S705 atwhich the item [k] is displayed in a gray-out state.

When reaching an end of the loop at step S706 after repeating thedetermination for an item [1] to an item [K], the procedure proceeds tostep S707 at which other control is executed. Other control is a mainprocess as the camera, for example, such as lens control, sensorcontrol, recorder control, and UI control, other than control of themenu.

Details of the process for performing determination of mount interchangewhen the camera according to the present exemplary embodiment starts andupdating the menu and the My Menu are as described above.

Here, the determination of the mount interchange is performed only whenthe camera starts (power is turned on). As a reason therefor, a firstpoint is that it is not recommended to interchange the mount when thepower of the camera is in the on state because of possibility of causingelectrical short-circuit. A second point is that there is a case whereit is difficult to make the menu setting in a state withoutinconsistency under a situation where there is a reason for necessity ofinterchanging the mount even with a risk of causing electricalshort-circuit.

Among them, the second point depends on a system, so that it is possibleto realize the menu setting without inconsistency when a process asillustrated in FIG. 8A or FIG. 8B is able to be executed.

FIG. 8A is a flowchart illustrating details of one example of othercontrol of step S707. At step S801, the system control unit 4discriminates and acquires a type of the mount with the mount detectionunit 15 as described in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

The system control unit 4 confirms whether or not the current mount hasthe same type of the mount stored in the SRAM 11 at step S802. When itis determined as the same type at step S802, the procedure exits thepresent process. On the other hand, when it is determined as not thesame type, that is, determined that the mount has been interchanged atstep S802, the procedure proceeds to step S803 at which the camera isrestarted. The process for restarting the camera at step S803 is asequential end process for turning off the power of the camera, and whenit is ready to restart the camera, the procedure proceeds to step S603of FIG. 6.

However, when considering that work is made with a risk of interchangingthe mount with the power in the on state intentionally, the process ofFIG. 8A involving restarting of the camera is also considered to be anoperation not desired by the user.

Thus, the camera is prevented from restarting in FIG. 8B. FIG. 8B is aflowchart illustrating details of one example of other control of stepS707, in which the same reference signs are assigned to the sameprocesses as those of is FIG. 6 and FIG. 8A, and the description thereofwill be omitted.

In the flowchart of FIG. 8B, the acquisition of the type of the mount inthe on state at step S801 and the determination of the mount interchangeat step S802 are similar to those of FIG. 8A. When it is determined asnot the same type, that is, determined that the mount has beeninterchanged at step S802, similarly to is FIG. 6, the processes fromthe routine of the updating process at steps S605 to S611 to the totalinitializing of the menu setting at step S613 are executed. This makesit possible to achieve the same effect as the effect achieved byperforming these processes when the camera is started.

However, a series of initializing processes includes a process whichrequires much processing time in some cases, and whether these processesare able to be executed while keeping the operation of the cameradepends on the system. In this manner, it is not required to perform thedetermination of the mount interchange only when the camera is startedas long as control as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B can be performed.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

Next, a second exemplary embodiment will be described. Thoughdescription has been given in the first exemplary embodiment for theexample in which the mount interchange is determined based on a type ofthe mount, an example in which a similar process is performed by usingother information as a criterion of determination will be described inthe second exemplary embodiment. Note that, the configuration of thecamera and the basic operation are similar to those of the firstexemplary embodiment, and a difference from the first exemplaryembodiment will be mainly described below.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process forperforming determination of mount interchange when a camera according tothe present exemplary embodiment starts and updating a menu and a MyMenu, in which the same reference signs are assigned to the sameprocesses as those of FIG. 6, and the description thereof will beomitted.

After the type of the mount is acquired at step S603, communication in aformat according to the type of the mount needs to be performed with thelens 14, so that a lens communication scheme is decided at step S901.

The system control unit 4 confirms whether or not the current lenscommunication scheme is the same as the lens communication scheme whenthe camera starts in the previous time at step S902. When it isdetermined as the same lens communication scheme at step S902, theprocedure proceeds to step S614. On the other hand, when it isdetermined as not the same lens communication scheme, that is,determined that the mount has been interchanged, the procedure proceedsto step S605.

After the update process routine of steps S605 to S611, the systemcontrol unit 4 saves lens communication scheme information in the SRAM11 at step S903, and uses the lens communication scheme information forthe determination when the camera starts next time.

Even when performing control with the lens communication scheme as areference as described above, the similar process is able to berealized.

Though a sequence of the example in which all items of the menu areinitialized as the total initializing of the menu setting at step S613is indicated in the exemplary embodiments described above, all the itemsare not necessarily targeted. For example, the updating process may berealized by initializing, for example, only an item which is associatedwith the mount. The updating process may be realized even with amechanism in which the setting of the menu is held in a separate SRAM 11for each mount.

Though the discussions are made by assuming that registration iscancelled in the My Menu after hiding an item of the menu, which is notusable for the mount, the updating process may be realized by settingall corresponding items to the invalid display (gray-out display).

Moreover, the discussions are made by assuming that the menu and the MyMenu are updated triggered by the mount interchange in the mountdetermination at step S604, a timing thereof is not limited thereto. Forexample, it may be set that the processes at steps S607 to S610 arealways performed when the camera is started, and only the backup of themount type at step S612 and the total initializing of the menu settingat step S613 are performed when mount interchange is detected. Further,the similar effect is achieved also by performing only the totalinitializing of the menu setting at step S613 when the mount interchangeis detected.

Though the present invention has been described above with reference toexemplary embodiments, the exemplary embodiments above illustrate onlyembodying examples for implementing the present invention, and thetechnical scope of the present invention may not be limitedly understooddue to such examples. That is, the present invention may be implementedin a variety of forms without departing from the technical concept orthe main features of the present invention.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment (s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a menu and a My Menuare automatically updated according to mount interchange, with neitherlabor nor consciousness of a user. This makes it possible to preventinconsistency from occurring in a function of an image capturingapparatus after the mount interchange, so that the user is not confused.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the present inventionis not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2015-072106, filed on 31 Mar. 2015, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image capturing apparatus, comprising: a bodyportion capable of interchangeably attaching a plurality of types ofmounts to the image capturing apparatus, each type of mountcorresponding to at least one respective type of interchangeable lens,wherein mounts of the type of mount are configured to interchangeablyattach lenses of the at least one respective type of interchangeablelens to the image capturing apparatus; one or more processors; and oneor memories storing instruction that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause the image capturing apparatus to perform operationscomprising: identifying a type of the mount attached to the imagecapturing apparatus; and managing a menu including a customizable menu,the customizable menu including an item which is registered by a user tobe included in the customizable menu, wherein, in a case where the typeof mount identified by the identifying does not correspond to the item,the customizable menu is managed so as to cancel registration of theitem.
 2. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinwhen an item included in the menu is an item corresponding to the typeof mount identified by the identifying, but the item is unable to beselected by a user, the menu is displayed in such a way that the menuindicates that the item is unable to be selected.
 3. The image capturingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein, upon the image capturingapparatus being turned on, the identifying identifies the type of themount attached to the image capturing apparatus.
 4. The image capturingapparatus according to claim 3, wherein in response to the identifyingdetermining that the type of the mount attached to the image capturingapparatus is different from the type of mount identified as being thetype of the mount attached to the image capturing apparatus when theimage capturing apparatus was turned on, the image capturing apparatusrestarts.
 5. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 3, whereinin response to the identifying determining that the type of the mountattached to the image capturing apparatus is different from the type ofmount identified as being the type of the mount attached to the imagecapturing apparatus when the image capturing apparatus was turned on,the menu is managed so as not to display an item which does notcorrespond to the type of mount currently identified by the identifyingas being the type of the mount currently attached to the image capturingapparatus.
 6. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 5,wherein the operations further comprise initializing the items includedin the menu after the menu is managed so as not to display an item whichis unnecessary for the type of mount currently identified by theidentifying as being the type of the mount currently attached to theimage capturing apparatus.
 7. The image capturing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a storage configured to store informationindicating the type of the mount, attached to the image capturingapparatus, identified by the identifying, wherein the identifyingcompares the type of the mount currently identified with the informationstored in the storage when identifying the type of the mount.
 8. Theimage capturing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when a firstmount type identified by the identifying as being the type of the mountcurrently attached to the image capturing apparatus is different from asecond mount type which is indicated by stored information stored by thestorage, the storage replaces the stored information indicating thesecond mount type with information indicating the first mount type. 9.The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theoperations further comprise: determining a communication scheme with thelens currently attached to the image capturing apparatus, based on thetype of the mount identified by the identifying, and a storageconfigured to store communication scheme information regarding thedetermined communication scheme, wherein before the communication schemeinformation regarding the communication scheme determined by thedetermining is stored in the storage, the image capturing apparatuscompares the determined communication scheme to communication schemeinformation previously stored in the storage to determine mountinterchange.
 10. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein an item on the menu is displayed which corresponds to the typeof the mount identified by the identifying.
 11. The image capturingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the customizable menu is managedso as to cancel registration of the item, in a case where the type ofmount identified by the identifying does not support a functionassociated with the item.
 12. A control method of an image capturingapparatus, the image capturing apparatus having a body portion capableof interchangeably attaching a plurality of types of mount to the imagecapturing apparatus, each type of mount corresponding to at least onerespective type of interchangeable lens, wherein mounts of the type ofmount are configured to interchangeably attach lenses of the at leastone respective type of interchangeable lens to the image capturingapparatus, the control method comprising: a step of identifying a typeof the mount attached to the image capturing apparatus; and a step ofmanaging a menu including a customizable menu, the customizable menuincluding an item which is registered by a user to be included in thecustomizable menu, wherein, in a case where the type of mount identifiedby the identifying does not correspond to the item, the managing managesthe customizable menu so as to cancel registration of the item.
 13. Thecontrol method according to claim 12, wherein the managing manages thecustomizable menu so as to cancel registration of the item, in a casewhere the type of mount identified by the identifying does not support afunction associated with the item.
 14. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing an imagecapturing apparatus to execute a method, the image capturing apparatushaving a body portion capable of interchangeably attaching a pluralityof types of mount to the image capturing apparatus, each type of mountcorresponding to at least one respective type of interchangeable lens,wherein mounts of the type of mount are configured to interchangeablyattach lenses of the at least one respective type of interchangeablelens to the image capturing apparatus, the method causing a computer ofthe image capturing apparatus to: identify a type of the mount attachedto the image capturing apparatus; and manage a menu including acustomizable menu, the customizable menu including an item which isregistered by a user to be included in the customizable menu, wherein,in a case where the type of mount identified by the identifying does notcorrespond to the item, the customizable menu is managed so as to cancelregistration of the item.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium according to claim 14, wherein the managing manages thecustomizable menu so as to cancel registration of the item, in a casewhere the type of mount identified by the identifying does not support afunction associated with the item.